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Manga and Anime News

In Japan, manga is serialized in various magazines. Every new chapter that gets released is printed in one of many different magazines, sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly. There are multiple various prints running a multitude of genres. Here in North America, we really only have one – Viz Manga ‘s digital magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump.

The magazine is a mirror image to the popular Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan, a magazine that has been in publication since 1968. It runs almost all the same titles as the Japanese magazine, but with a few additional titles held by Viz Media. When the Viz company first started publishing magazines with their licensed manga, they started with two: Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat. These magazines were published in paper, and instead of weekly, came monthly. They were popular in bookstores and issues could be easily found at most public libraries.

In 2011, Viz announced that they were making a shift. By 2013, both Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat were out of print, and had been replaced by a new magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump. Viz began several changes when they made the shift. This new magazine would be published weekly, instead of monthly, as previously done. Viz also chose to publish digitally. As for the manga titles that got dropped from running, such as those running in Shojo Beat, are also available through Viz Manga.

With the move to digital, Viz Manga has become much more accessible. Weekly Shonen Jump, in addition to their other titles, can be read through Android and iOS apps, Kindle, Nook, and Kobo E-Reader. Subscriptions are available through Viz Manga, and if you choose to include your mailing address, Viz sends free promotional Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and other fun features. If you’re not feeling a subscription, individual issues can be bought separately. And, as the digital age goes, Weekly Shonen Jump’s publication is simultaneous with Japan’s magazine, so you won’t be missing a second.

As for what is currently running in Weekly Shonen Jump’s lineup, the list is as follows:

Bleach – Who hasn’t heard of this popular manga monster by Tite Kubo? With Naruto ending its 700-chapter run in November, Bleach may be the next biggest thing. For those new into manga, Bleach is the story of a young man who accidentally gains the power of a Soul Reaper – a Death God. With these newfound powers, he is charged with protecting humanity from evil spirits, and often ends up travelling across the afterlife. Just don’t ask why it’s called Bleach.

Blue Exorcist – The story of the half-human, half-demonic son of Satan. Sounds god already, doesn’t it? In this supernatural tale, young Rin Okumura decides to become an exorcist so he can defeat his father. The story is penned by Kazue Katō.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma – A collaboration by author Yūto Tsukuda, illustrator Shun Saeki, and with recipes by Yuki Morisaki. If you couldn’t guess by the title, this is a cooking manga. But it’s a high energy cooking manga, about a boy who enters an elite cooking school where only 10% of students graduate. We’re stressed for him already.

Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgement – Draw by the same artist as Death Note, Takeshi Obata, this manga is about as far from Death Note as you can get. It’s about a grade school defense attorney. This is a unique little gem of a manga, as you can’t say you’ve ever read a courtroom drama quite like this one.

Hunter x Hunter – Imagine if there was a job that’s description entailed exploring the unexplored, collecting lost treasure, and hunting criminals, all while constantly encountering the paranormal. That’s the job description of a Hunter, the pursuit of the young Gon in this manga. The inspiration came from the author Yoshihiro Togashi’s own collecting hobby.

My Hero Academia – By Kōhei Horikoshi, this fairly new manga tells the story of a young boy without any superpowers, living in a world of superpowered people. It’s a story for anyone who has ever been left out. My Hero Academia is also one of the nominees for this year’s Manga Taisho Award.

Nisekoi: False Love – A comedy by Naoshi Komi. This offbeat rom-com stars the two children of rival yakuza bosses, who decide to settle their differences by pairing their children together. This would work – if those two didn’t hate each other. Nisekoi has had an anime adaption running since January 2014.

One Piece – Another long-running popular series, this manga has well over 700 chapters. By Oda Eiichiro, this fun pirate adventure has been one of the top manga since it began, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

One-Punch Man – A comedic webcomic by a mysterious author who simply goes by One, this little treasure details a man who can defeat enemies – with one punch. He’s become bored of his power and is looking for stronger opponents, ones that can withstand more than just one punch.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign – Who doesn’t need a good vampire story in this day and age? Instead of the ever-popular vampire romance, this dark fantasy by Takaya Kagami and Yamato Yamamoto tells the story of a world overrun by vampires, and a young man who sets out to destroy them all and end their reign.

Toriko – By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro, this is another cooking manga. Toriko tells the story of a chef who i travelling the world looking for rare ingredients to create a full-course meal.

World Trigger – By Daisuke Ashihara, this manga is the tale of monstrous creatures crossing over into Earth, and a group of people called Border agents who stop them. The ticket to this manga is that it’s told from the mouth of one of the monsters.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal – How long has Yu-Gi-Oh! been going? How many series will there be? How long will it continue? Hopefully – for eternity. Does this manga need any explanation? A young protagonist sets off to be a Duel Monster champion. By Shin Yoshida and Naoto Miyashi, this manga will have you determined to collect as many cards as you can. After all, how many decks of 50 do you need? With free cards coming with your subscription, the answer is: as many as you fit it your house.

On Friday, Toei Animation Europe has stated in a news article that a second series for the popular Sailor Moon Crystal is in the works and will premiere this summer! For the fans that had read the manga, this means this new series will follow the Mugen (Infinity) arc which will introduce the outer senshis, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune as well as the new threat to humanity: The Death Busters (Alternately called the Heart Snatchers in the English adaption.)

The first Sailor Moon Crystal series consists of two arcs into one season, the original Sailor Moon Arc and the Black Moon arc which introduces Chibiusa and also unveils the future for Usagi and the others in Crystal Tokyo. At the moment we are unsure if we are going to get the Yume arc as well, but if they are going to be following the same format as the first series, then you can expect to see Chibiusa and Pegasus hopefully sometime next year!

At this rate, fans are hoping to see the Stars arc animated as well, but only time will tell, and I have full confidence the whole SMC series will be animated.

The anime first premiered last July with new episodes streaming on the first and third Saturdays of each month. If you want to catch up before the second series begins, you can head over to Crunchyroll , Hulu or Neon Alley to view the remake of a classic!

Otaku USA Magazine, best known among anime fans as being a reliable source for all things anime and manga related, have just released The Very Best Anime Guide!: a free e-book containing, as the title suggests, a guide to the best of anime.

As the world could pass through nuclear fallout and fans still wouldn’t be able to agree on the best anime of all, the e-book instead gathers various thoughts and opinions on contributors’ personal favorite. With over 27 members of Otaku USA’s staff giving their input, readers can rest assured the list is well-rounded. The guide goes further, including stills, art, reviews, and several Top 5 lists. These include both the old and the new, both series and films. Contributors include Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias and website editor Joseph Luster, so the opinions are well-researched and come from a very high source.

The e-book is a must-read for all anime fans. Whether you’ve been watching for years or just started a month ago, this is a guide to help navigate through list upon list of anime. It is an excellent way to find that next great series, or reaffirm old favorites. Better yet, use this as an opportunity to try and figure out what you consider to be the greatest anime of all time. It’s harder than it looks.

The Very Best Anime Guide! is available for free download on Otaku USA’s website. Put it on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, and read away. Dive into waters you’ve not yet swum. This book is a good primer if you haven’t watched much anime before or are looking for the next great series.

This past weekend, the staff of Fairy Tail held a fan event called the Dragon King Festival. Named after an event in the manga, this gathering included fan merchandise, guest appearances by voice actors and series creator Hiro Mashima himself, and a few very exciting announcements for Fairy Tail fans. It has been confirmed that Fairy Tail is getting another movie.

This will be the second movie, after 2012’s ‘Phoenix Priestess.’ A teaser image for the movie was released, featuring the dragon slayer Natsu Dragneel half-formed into a dragon. This set fans ablaze with excitement and theories, as it was revealed as a plot point some time ago that dragon slayers, if their magic is used too excessively, can turn into dragons themselves. While most anime movies do not contain anything important to the series’ plot, this movie will clearly have some relevance, even in the smallest of ways, to Fairy Tail’s main plotline.

We will also be blessed with another OVA – original video animation. This is the seventh OVA for Fairy Tail, and the third to be based on actual material. This OVA will be adapting the bonus chapter “Penalty Game,” which takes place after the Grand Magic Games, chronologically.

Mashima also spoke a bit about the next anime arc. The Tartarus arc was popular along readers, albeit a bit dark and depressing. A sneak peek at some of the animation was revealed, along with some information. Anime staff are always looking for extra bits to pad the story and make it longer, but this time they’ll be taking bits and pieces that were supposed to happen in the manga, but time and space ran out and they had to be cut. Mashima mentioned three extra villains and a mini storyline that pertained to character favourite Laxus Dreyar, so it’s very possible the anime will have more Laxus – not that anyone will ever complain about more Laxus.

The manga also received several stunning revelations in the latest two chapters. For the last five weeks, two chapters have been released at a time. All this has been to culminate an incredible ending for the most recent mini-arc, capping it off with some major plot twists. No spoilers, but it involves some unexpected family relations and a…reintroduction to a character, of sorts.

It’s been an amazing few weeks for Fairy Tail fans, and though next week we’ll be back to the usual chapter-a-week pace, things will only be getting crazier from here on out.

Have you ever wanted to join the Survey Corps and join the relentless battles against the titans? Now you can! Nexon’s Maple Story, an online 2D side-scrolling MMORPG, and Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan are now joining forces!

Characters that are level 30 and higher will have access to a portal that will take them to the world of Attack on Titan where special coins will be needed to participate in episodic content. Train with Mikasa and Eren to become a successful team member to the survey corps and use omni-directional mobility gear! Once training is over, be prepared for the episode of defending the Wall Rose from the Colossal Titan’s attack! Those who survive the attack will be rewarded with with valuable items to be able to recreate some of your favourite AoT characters such as Eren, Mikasa, Levi and Armin!

The new crossover has been available in the Japanese version since November last year but will now be available to play in the English version! Do you have it takes to take on the Colossal Titan and protect your friends? Now you can find out!

Some people are really new to anime or have taken a break and have recently come back. There is a ton of content out there right now but what had the best story line? Art style and animation? What was the most engaging to viewers? Well you’ve come to the right place! Here you will get an essential list to the top 10 anime that you should be watching right now!

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Genre: Magical Girl, Dark Fantasy, Horror

Middle school students Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Meiki encounter a small mysterious creature named Kyubey who offers them an interesting opportunity. A contract in which a girl may have any wish granted in exchange for magical powers and the task to fight against witches. While Madoka struggles to determine if she will make the contract, a transfer student and mysterious magical girl, Akemi Homura, tries to stop Madoka from making the contract at all costs. After meeting an upperclassman at the same school, Mami Tomoe reveals she too is a magical girl and agrees to take the girls witch hunting. When devastating events occur, Madoka has to wonder just what it means to be a magical girl and the perils that it will force them to face.

Available on Crunchyroll – Hulu

Attack on Titan

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic

Over one hundred years ago, giant humanoid creatures called Titans suddenly appeared and nearly wiped out humanity, devouring everyone without any remorse or reason. What remains of the human race now resides in three enormous concentric walls and inside, humanity has lived in peace. After a seemingly normal day, the wall that protected them for so long has been breached and young Eren Yeager, along with his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman, rush to find their parents. Eren watches in horror as a titan devours his mother and makes a vow to kill all the titans and enlists in the military with the other survivors from the attack.

Available on Hulu , Crunchyroll , Funimation

Sword Art Online

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance

In 2022, a company has perfected virtual reality. With the use of the Nerve Gear, a virtual reality helmet that stimulates the users five senses through their brain, players can now journey to Sword Art Online, becoming their personas and go on grand adventures. However once players try to log out, it is announced that they are trapped inside a life or death situation. In order to live, you must win the game. To die in the game, means to die in the real world. The main protagonist, Kirito, is a master swordsman who sets out to save the trapped minds of Aincrad with the help of his companion Asuna along with other friends.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix

Durarara

Genre: Action, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy

Mikado Ryūgamine, a young boy who yearns for the exciting life of a big city, decides to move to Ikebukuro to attend Raira Academy with his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who he has not seen since they were young. After the two meet up, they set out at night of the streets of the bustling city. Masaomi warns Mikado of the people he doesn’t want to cross in the city, such as a violent and super humanly strong man named Shizuo Heiwajima, the information broker Izaya Orihara and the mysterious gang known as “The Dollars”. Nervous after the stories his friend tells him, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first night in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle that occasionally neigh’s like a horse. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Scarves will rise to surface, and Ikebukuro will be pushed to it’s limits.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu

Mushi-Shi

Genre: Occult detective

Ginko is a Mushi Master, travelling from place to place to research and discover more about the mysterious creatures called Mushi. It is implied there are many and have more lifeforms more primitive than “Normal” living things such as animals, plants, fungi and bacteria, also wielding supernatural powers. Ginko sets off on a journey to aid people that have suffered from the Mushi.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu , Funimation ,

Bakemonogatari

Genre: Occult Detective, Romantic Comedy

The story follows Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who has become human again after becoming a vampire for a short time. One day, a classmate, the reclusive Hitagi Senjōgahara falls down the stairs into Koyomi’s hands to realize, she was weightless. Despite being threatened to keep away, Koyomi tells her of an old man who helped his problem and could help hers too. After helping Hitagi’s problem, it turns out various other girls in the school will be in need of aid due to their oddities as well.

Available on Crunchyrol l, Hulu ,

Angel Beats!

Genre: Action, Comedy-Drama, Fantasy, Tragedy

Otonashi has lost his memories of his life after his death and finds himself at a high school that acts as limbo to those who have died, where students learn to give up any lingering attachments they may still have from life before passing on. Otonashi then meets Yuri, who invites him to join the Afterlife Battlefront, SSS, an organization she founded and leads a fight against God.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu ,

Magi

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

A young boy named Aladdin travels around a strange land in which mysterious ruins called Dungeons are said to house priceless treasures. Together with his friend Alibaba, a young man he met during his travels, Aladdin strives to conquer all of the Dungeons and obtain their treasures. But little does Aladdin know, that with every Dungeon conquered and every treasure found, he’s closer and closer to learning what fate has in store for him.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix

Fate Zero

Genre: Action, Fantasy

Taking place 10 years before the events in Fate/Stay Night, details the events of the 4th Holy Grail war. The Einzbern family is determined to achieve success after three consecutive failures no mater what the cost. As a result, they have selected a magus killer, Kiritsugu Emiya into their ranks despite his methods and reputation as a mercenary and hitman.

Available on Netflix , Hulu , Crunchyroll

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Genre: Action, Comedy, Adventure, Mecha

In a dark future where humanity is oppressed by an army of mutants and forced to live their lives underground, a young orphan unearths a powerful robot. Together a boisterious man named Kamina, a beautiful sharpshooter named Yoko and many other friends, Simon will use rob bots to fight against their oppressors and take back what was one theirs.

Available on Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix

Tokyo Ghoul

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Tragedy

This story follows Kaneki Ken, a college student who barely survives a deadly encounter with Rize Kamishiro, a ghoul, a human-like creature that devours flesh. Kaneki is taken to a hospital in critical condition but upon waking up, discovers that he had somehow underwent surgery to become a half ghoul. With no one else to turn to, he is taken in by the ghouls who manage “Antieku”, a coffee who is run by ghouls will teach him how to deal with his new life.

PlayStation Mobile held a link between Sony’s Android devices and the PlayStation Vita library. Unfortunately Sony will be pulling the plug on the service and on the mobile store starting July 15th. The service started in 2012 and allowed Indie developers to create their own games that would work on both platforms, but as Sony had placed their focus on other projects, PlayStation Mobile was swept to the side, making those indie title gems hard to find.

The closing of the mobile store will come in two parts, the store itself will be closing July 15th and users will have until September 10th to re-download games onto their devices. After September 10th any devices have not been authenticated will no longer be able to access the PlayStation Mobile content.

It’s always sad to see a service go, but it will be a good opportunity for them to focus 100% of their attention to a project that will really take off than to only focus a small portion of their focus on something that’s just doing alright for itself.